Dr Tony Craig appointed head of Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences

"SEGS is a hugely important and distinctive capability for the Institute. Tony is an excellent appointment and has lots of ideas about how to build SEGS even further"

Dr Tony Craig has been appointed head of the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department, having previously been in the role on an interim basis jointly with Dr Alice Hague. Dr Craig will take the role on a permanent basis at the beginning of April.

Commenting on the appointment, Director of Science, Professor Deb Roberts, said: “I would like to note how much I appreciate both Alice and Tony taking on the role as a job share last year. Together they have not just safe-guarded, but positively developed the group at a time of considerable uncertainty. In addition to all the work that you see day to day, they have represented the group excellently at senior management meetings and made significant contributions to Institute-level decision-making.“

Dr Craig carries out research in the area of people-environment studies. His interests are in findings ways to adequately represent dynamic people-environment relationships to allow meaningful computer simulations models in this area to be developed. He has recently been developing a portfolio of research around the topic of time use and time pressure in everyday life.

He has previously worked on EU projects looking at energy behaviours and pro-environmental behaviours at work, and on sustainable lifestyles.

Following the appointment, he said: “I am delighted that the Institute have put their trust in me to lead the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences department. There are a huge number of exciting and important scientific and policy challenges ahead that we are extremely well aligned to tackling, and I feel honoured to be leading such a fantastic multidisciplinary group of social scientists”.

Professor Deb Roberts added: “The SEGS department is a hugely important and distinctive capability for the Institute. Tony is an excellent appointment and has lots of ideas about how to build the SEGS department even further.”